GSA, NHTSA team up to improve federal vehicle safety

May. 12, 2014 - 06:00AM
|

The General Services Administration will boost safety efforts and research new technologies for its federal fleet, according to an agreement signed May 12 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The memorandum between the two agencies focuses on improving the safety of GSA’s more than 200,000 vehicles it leases to federal agencies, including:

■ Developing a process for GSA to learn about new safety technologies and ensure that GSA fleet purchases include new safety technologies.

■ Creating a research program to pilot and evaluate new safety technologies or processes for the federal fleet.

■ Improving the way information about potential defects and problems are coordinated between agencies.

High-tech innovation plays a critical role in making GSA operate more efficiently, according to administrator Dan Tangherlini.

“We’re excited to bring this same level of innovation to the federal fleet program in an effort to adopt the best safety measures possible for federal drivers and the American people,” Tangherlini said in a release.

The agreement also prioritizes swift action so that federal vehicles subject to recalls are repaired as quickly as possible.

David Friedman, the acting administrator of NHTSA, said the agency is excited to team up with GSA to help make sure safety technologies are available across the government and to help agencies spread safety information faster.■